Variocam Solenoid

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

I am faced with replacing the solenoid and actuator for the variocam on my '99 Boxster.

Has anyone done this job themselves? I have read about people taking their cars to the dealers for that, but my nearest dealer is over 100 mi. away and I have always done my own work.

I am thinking about dropping the engine and replacing the clutch and doing the IMS upgrade at the same time. Can the solenoid/actuator even be done with the engine in the car?

I just got this car, so am not yet fully familiar with it.

David Nolen
'99 Boxster
'70 911T

thom4782 · thom4782's Garage

I think the solenoid is relatively simple to replace and one can do it with the engine in the car. My impression is that replacing the actuator is much more challenging because one must remove the engine and cam to do so. More experienced people can provide better guidance here.

racer · 08-16-2013, 08:25 AM

fwiw, I had a failed variocam actuator. Replacing this requires re-timing the cams so 24 valves don't go crunch. Not sure if a variocam solenoid requires the same issue or if the term is being used interchangeably. fwiw, my work was done with engine in car by a shop. not cheap.

JFP in PA · 08-16-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer

fwiw, I had a failed variocam actuator. Replacing this requires re-timing the cams so 24 valves don't go crunch. Not sure if a variocam solenoid requires the same issue or if the term is being used interchangeably. fwiw, my work was done with engine in car by a shop. not cheap.

Changing the solenoid does not require retiming the cams, changing the actuator does.

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

What has to be removed to get access to the solenoid?

JFP in PA · 08-16-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfdwn

What has to be removed to get access to the solenoid?

The cam cover on that side. You are also going to need a cam holding tool:

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

Thanks so much. I understand what I am dealing with now. I will get the holding tool and proceed. The cam cover sealant, is it "special" or are there equivalents?

JFP in PA · 08-16-2013, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfdwn

Thanks so much. I understand what I am dealing with now. I will get the holding tool and proceed. The cam cover sealant, is it "special" or are there equivalents?

Loctite 518, use it sparingly.............

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

Thanks

Vza · 09-17-2018, 08:54 PM

Hi, 99 boxster,going to replace solenoid on bank 2. The diy project has instructions to loosen the chain tensioners but I'm not going to remove the cams, I’m just replacing the solenoid and maybe the chainrail if it's worn. Is there any need to loosen the tensioners? Thanks v

dlud · 09-19-2018, 04:40 PM

You need to remove the cams to replace the variocam rails. The variocam and cams come out together. I'm guessing that on a 99 the rails are well worn if the car has any amount of mileage on it. Here are variocam rails that I took off a 2002 yesterday (95k miles). You can see the significant wear-the wear pads should be smooth. The wear pad on the other side of this variocam was worse.

Vza · 09-19-2018, 08:49 PM

Thanks, I thought I read that they just snap out but that's probably after you pull the Variocam out. Correct?

Vza · 09-19-2018, 09:10 PM

Did you pull the cams without dropping the engine?

dlud · 09-19-2018, 09:35 PM

They do snap out but only once the variocam is out. I did the job with the engine in the car. I did both side. However, I had to remove the headers and the airbox on the driver's side (quite difficult). Even with the airbox and headers removed it is not an easy job with the engine in. The current job I'm doing is with the engine out. Some have suggested just dropping the engine a few inches.